2.3 Responding to global climate change Flashcards
define mitigation, risk and adaptation in the context of global warming?
Adaptation: this refers to ways in which people try to reduce their vulnerability, as well as the vulnerability of natural systems, to climate change
Mitigation: these are strategies and ways to reduce the cause of climate change
Risk: this is the likelihood that a hazardous event will occur and have negative consequences
what are the six factors that may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
location, wealth, gender, age, education, risk perception.
can you expand on location as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Location: As previously mentioned, low-lying coastal areas are vulnerable to sea level rise. Additionally, floodplains are vulnerable to flooding from rivers. Some places such as areas with steeper slopes are vulnerable to mass movements and migration as more people are forced to leave their homes due to sea level rise and incidence of extreme weather events
can you expand on wealth as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Wealth: Wealthier households are able to afford to live in better and safer accommodation in safe areas. Additionally, they are able to leave an area if there is a threat and they are able to afford to repair damage caused by extreme weather events
can you expand on gender as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Gender: Women are more vulnerable to climate change as they are the main carers in families for children and the elderly
can you expand on age as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Age: The elderly and children are more vulnerable to climate change (reasons explained in unit 2.2)
can you expand on education as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Education: Those who are educated are more aware of the threats posed by climate change. Therefore, they are more able to take action. Moreover, education has an influence on wealth and as previously mentioned wealthier households are less vulnerable to climate change
can you expand on risk perseption as a factor which may alter the vulnerability of someone to climate change?
Risk perception: The action a person takes depends on their perception. Some people are risk takers, others are fatalists (they think that no matter what they do the outcome will remain the same), and some try to minimize risk. People who try to minimize their risk may help reduce their vulnerability to climate change, compared to those who do not minimize their risk
what are the two umbrella ways we can look at mitigation stratagies?
National and international methods
Individual methods:
what are some national and international methods to mitigate climate change?
Geo-engineering schemes
Carbon offsetting schemes
Carbon trading schemes
Carbon capture
can you expand on Geo-engineering schemes as a national and international way to mitigate climate change?
these are large-scale and expensive projects that are designed to tackle climate change directly by altering natural processes. Examples include releasing aerosols into the atmosphere in order to dim incoming sunlight in order to cool the planet or placing large mirrors in space to deflect some incoming solar radiation
can you expand on Carbon offsetting schemes as a national and international way to mitigate climate change?
it is a way to neutralize our carbon dioxide emissions by investing in projects that cut emissions elsewhere such as planting trees or renewable energy sources like as wind energy.
can you expand on Carbon trading schemes as a national and international way to mitigate climate change?
With this scheme, a limit is set on how many tonnes of carbon dioxide can be emitted by companies. If they want to exceed their carbon dioxide limits, they have to purchase a permit to emit more carbon dioxide from other companies who do not reach their carbon dioxide limit. Therefore, carbon trading creates a market through the trading of permits issued by the government
can you expand on Carbon capture schemes as a national and international way to mitigate climate change?
This involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through special processes or capturing the carbon dioxide at the site where it is produced, such as a cement factory, and then depositing it in underground sites where it will not enter the atmosphere
what are the individual methods of mitigating climate change?
Using public transportation
Use energy efficient products
Turn off taps when not in use
Turn off appliances when not in use
Walk or use a bike more often